Easy French Dip Recipe

I made a really great French Dip sandwich for dinner last night, and the recipe could not have been easier. 

We started with 1 pound of deli Di Lusso medium roast beef

I put 1 can of French Onion Soup {I added about 1/2 can of water to this}

and 1 can of Beef Consomme 

to a soft, rolling boil with the roast beef. It took about 15 minutes. 

I had also bought provolone cheese from the deli counter and used that to top the sandwiches. 

{Tony is not a huge cheese fan (Horror, I know!), so I used the provolone on his sparingly}

I scooped up the roast beef using a slotted spoon to drain the liquid from the meat. I took care to make sure some of the onions stayed on the roast beef. Then topped with the provolone cheese. I set them under the oven broiler set to 425 for about 8-10 min.

I saved the liquid for the dipping sauce and it was very tasty.

They were very good, and the kids even ate some of it. We kept it simple on a weeknight and served with corn and some waffle fries. 

I got the recipe from a southern blogger I read, and I am so glad I did. 

*Recipe from April at A.Liz Adventures

 Link

Weekending {as a verb}

Our weekend was such a nice time. We were busy, tried to beat the heat, and we were well. 

I took the kids out for dinner alone on Saturday night. Tony had a golf tournament most of the day, and I thought I would brave it myself with our favorite Mexican place, El Azteca. The kids did great, and we were in and out of there in less than an hour, so I am sure that helped. 

The sprinkler got a lot of use this weekend. I was not up to taking the kids to the pool by myself. Maybe in a few years when Avery can swim better on her own, and maybe go down the slide without help at the bottom. I was not ready for that yet. 

This photo just screams SUMMERTIME!

The kids decided to color and Gavin was so excited to show me his crayon scratches. He would run over to me every few minutes to show me. He was so proud. 

I DID IT!

That face! Isn't he the cutest?

Grocery shopping on Sunday nights is a weekly event, and Gavin took his cart pushing very seriously. 

We made a new summer snack mix to keep on hand. Frosted animal crackers, popcorn, and pretzels. We added in cheese-its and Reeses Pieces later. It needed it. 

In basement news, we got the daybed and trundle all set up. We are ready for guests officially, even if there is no decor and the room is only partially 'done' for my standards. 

If only money and time were always so readily available, am I right?! {all in due time, I keep reminding myself...the countdown to 1 less kid in full time daycare is on!}

Bookworms

This is a series I like to call 'Gavin with books and his feet crossed'. 

The way he crosses his feet when he is reading and looking at books just kills me. He studies books, and now has some of his favorites memorized. Yesterday he recited Dr. Suess 'Are you my Mother' and he told me he was not my mother, he was a cow. 

He is flipping through my book from the library on Tudor history in England {Nerd Alert!}

A client we built a custom home for a few years ago dropped off 2 large shopping bags full of 'Summer Reads' as she calls them. Light, fluffy romances. I texted my mom this photo and told her we hit the mother load. She replied that there appears to be a few in there she hasn't read yet. Gavin's bookworm tendencies come to him naturally. 

What are some other good books to read this summer? 

Backyards and Kitchens

This is the view from the back deck on a project I am wrapping up. It's in Urbandale, and while the house is about 5 minutes from a Super Target, and 10 from a brand new Hy-Vee, you would never think this is what you would find in your backyard. It is divine, and I adore this project, and the homeowners who are building with us. Once the paint stage is over, I will post some pretty photos of the house. It's a good one. 

This is another project that is just about done. We close on this next week, and again, I was working with fantastic homeowners. I truly love what I get to do for a living. 

This kitchen is one of my favorites. It is sizeable, without being too big. I can barely keep my kitchen clean now, and it is about 2/3 the size of this one. We altered my favorite floor plan for this couple and they did well choosing finishes with me. I suggested that we waterfall the Cambria quartz countertop to add some contemporary punch to the kitchen. It turned out beautifully. 

This next job photo really doesn't do it justice, and I don't know how to accurately describe how gorgeous this house will be. 

Before I forget, "my" semi-custom {spec} home will be open this weekend from 1-4. Stop in to see it!

{OPEN HOUSE}

Boating at Big Creek Lake

On Saturday, Tony arranged a pontoon rental for us and some friends to celebrate my birthday. {Actual birthday is this Wednesday 6/8}

We started around 10 AM with some friends and set out on the lake. It was gorgeous out, and the weather could not have been more perfect for us. The pontoon held up to 16 people, and with children, we had 14 to start. It was very comfortable. 

The kids loved being on board, and looking out into the water. The marina at the state park provided life jackets for us all and got us started. There was also a grill aboard, so we were able to pack hot dogs, brats, and burgers to make for lunch. 

The kids especially were very well behaved and were having such a wonderful time. It was so fun for us parents to watch our kids jumping in to swim, and playing with each other. 

These kids have been friends since birth. We joked that this photo would end up on all their graduation party photo boards. 

Our Gavin was not exactly as excited to be on the water as the rest of the kids. Cold water, wind, and being overtired will do that to a 3 year old. He was more excited to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house in the afternoon. Tony's parents picked up the kids around 1:30 so they could get a nap, get out of the sun, and we could enjoy the pontoon and some beverages sans children. 

Thank you to all our friends that joined us! It was a really fun day that I really appreciated. Cheers to turning 35!

Making a fairy garden.

My mom came down for part of the long holiday weekend, and she brought a fairy garden with her! Well, she brought the supplies, and she and Avery put it together. Avery picked what she wanted out of the plants, fence, and layout. 

She found the fairy garden supplies at her local nursery, but you can get them on Amazon too. 

Avery chose her plants, and which accessories from Grandma's stash to use. She even allocated a Fairy for Gavin. We told my mom that Gavin was not into arts and crafts, and would have no interest in building his own fairy garden, so she brought him some Matchbox cars, and he was a happy boy.

Avery loved using the water marbles for her river. She has been obsessed with them lately. 

They created a walk way out of small slate mosaic tile from the bridge to the fairy house, and filled in the yard with moss. 

We also added a solar light, and it was complete. It really added to our deck!

Mom sent me a photo of her fairy garden last night. This way there is one at each grandchild's house, and at Grandma's too.